Depts. of Justice and Education Remind School Districts That All Students, Regardless of Immigration Status, May Enroll in Public Schools

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LOS ANGELES, Calif.— The U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Education yesterday issued a joint letter to remind educators of their legal responsibility to educate all students, regardless of national origin or immigration status. The letter issued a stern warning to districts that student enrollment practices that may “lead to the exclusion of students based on their or their parents’ or guardians’ actual or perceived immigration status” would “contravene Federal law.”

“For more than fifty years, the law of the land has been clear: a child’s right to an education is constitutionally protected,” said Marielena Hincapié, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center. “Immigration enforcement has no place in a child’s classroom and parents should not have reason to fear that they are putting themselves or their loved ones at risk by enrolling their children in their local public schools. Ensuring that all children have access to education is necessary for the well-being of our communities and for the future of our country.”

Eunice Cho, a Skadden Fellow at the law center, added, “Too often, districts illegally place onerous verification requirements upon families who attempt to enroll their children in schools. We hope that this letter will prevent schools from engaging in discriminatory practices, and instead focus on ensuring that all children in their districts receive the education they need and deserve.”